So some days are diamonds, some days are dirt. Well today was a musical diamond day! I put three albums on the iPod this morning and I really like them all! The first up was a blues album from the Quintus McCormick Blues Band whose latest album Put It On Me is currently number 39 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart. When I went to Napster they only had 30 second clips for the album but they did have his debut album Hey Jodie , so that’s what went on the player. and I tell you it’s a great album. According to several reviews and the band’s Myspace page Quintus has been a mainstay of the Chicago blues scene for a long time and has….
toured the world with some of the most successful and important blues artists of our time: James Cotton, Otis Clay, A.C. Reed, and Lefty Dizz to name a few. Working as a sideman, Quintus’ reputation as a brilliant guitarist, gifted songwriter and astonishing vocalist spread like wildfire throughout the music community. His ever-evolving musicianship simply became too powerful to harness. Music legends Buddy Guy and James Cotton encouraged Quintus to form his own band
The album is full of great tracks and 14 out of the 15 are Quintus McCormick originals. At times his style is soulful and at others straight ahead blues either way it’s flat out good stuff!
Here’s some of Quintus’ electrifying guitar playing.
Next up the blues expanded to bluegrass and the Blind Corn Liquor Pickers and the band’s self titled debut album. This is my type of bluegrass, jamgrass, progressive bluegrass anything you want to call it, it;s just plain good music! I am probably going to write a longer piece about the album and the band after a few more listens!
The final album that I listened to today was The Shake Russell Band’s 2007 release Live at Gruene Hall Shake is one of those musicians, whose name I’ve heard but never listened to thier music. I only got to hear a few of the tracks on the album while I was walking home from work, but the one’s I heard I liked, so the album will get some more listens tomorrow!
Here’s some Blind Corn Liquor Pickers and a performance of “Appalachain Trail”